Rotating beverage cooler



M. R. GoLDsMlTH 2,928,705

' ROTATING BEVERAGE COOLER March 15, 1960 Filed May 14, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY March 15, 1960 M. R. GoLDsMm-l 2,928,705

ROTATING BEVERAGE COOLER 2 Sheecs--Sheecl 2 Filed May 14, 1956 q, J M R Y w@ m mf. @A T 3;@ M

United States Patent ROTATlNG BEVERAGE COOLER Mollie R. Goldsmith, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application May 14, 1956, Serial No. 584,493

2 Claims. (Cl. 3312-223) This invention relates to beverage coolers.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a beverage cooler in which the beverage bottles or containers are continuously moved for purposes of cooling and display.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage cooler in which a plurality of beverage bottles are simultaneously exhibited in a changing display while being cooled.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage cooler which is suitable for use on a counter, shelf or the like, which is complete and self contained, and which merely requires the connection thereof to a conventional electric powerA supply.

it is a further object of the presentinvention to provide a beverage cooler-for a plurality of beverage bottles which are simultaneously exhibited in a changing display on a movable platform and in which the removal of a bottle therefrom will cause the platform to stop until the bottle is replaced.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage cooler which is relatively simple in construction and which will be an effective merchandise display.

Itis a further object of the present invention to provide a beverage cooler in which interior illumination is provided which enhances the appearance of the cooler but without interference with the cooling action.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will be apparent from the specification and claims.

The nature and characteristic features of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which:

Figure l is a front elevational view of the beverage cooler in' accordance with the invention, parts being broken away to show the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing one form of holding structure;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the action when a bottle has been removed; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of the invention.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawings herein are illustrative merely, and that various modifications and changes may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which a preferred form of beverage cooler in accordance with the invention is illustrated, a housing forming part thereof is shown generally at 10.

The housing 10 is preferablyv formed of sheetimetal i or other suitable material and includes an outer housing portion with a vertical rear wall 11, and spaced parallel vertical side walls 12 and 13. The side walls l2 and 13 have, connected thereto by curved walls 14 and 15, outer frontwalls 16 and 17. y

The housing 10 also preferably includes an inner housing portion with a vertical rear wall 18 inwardly disposed in spaced relation to the rear wall 11, and spaced parallel vertical side walls 19 and 20 inwardly disposed in spaced relation to the side walls 12 and 13. The side walls -19 and 20 have, connected thereto by curved walls 21 and 22, inner front walls 23 and 24.

The outer front walls 16 and 17 are respectively connected to the inner front walls 23 and'24 by vertical walls 25 and 26. v

The space between the rear walls 11 and 18, the side walls 12 and 19 and 13 and 20, and the front walls 16 and 23 and 17 and 24, is preferably filled with suitable insulating material 27, compressed ber glass being suitable.

A horizontal top wall or cover 3d is provided and has a downwardly extending rim 31 for aiding in retaining it in place.

The housing 10 is provided with a horizontal bottom wall or oor 32 supported in any desired manner upon frame pieces 33, and spaced upwardly therefrom an intermediate horizontal wall 34 is provided.

Additional interior horizontal walls 35 and 35g are also provided and supported in any desired manner.

Extending downwardly from the wall 34, a lower front wall plate 36 is provided which closes the space between the vertical walls 25 and 26 and has an upper rearwardly extending rim portion 37.V

An enclosed compartment-or space 38 is thus provided between the floor-32 and the wall-34 within which the operating mechanism is housed, and an Vaccess opening 39 to the interior of the housing 1i)V is provided thereabove.

An electric motor 4t) is provided, carried on the oor 32, to which electric energy is supplied by a conductor 41 connected to a pronged plug 42. The pronged plug 42 is adapted for insertion into any Vconventional power supply such, for example, as volt alternating current.

The motor 40 has the shaft thereof connected through an overload or slipk clutch 43, carried on the floor 34 to a speed reducer44 having a vertical shaft 45 extendingupwardly therefrom. The shaft 4S extends upwardly through the horizontal walls 34, 35 and 35a,.and is journalled in a bearing 46 carried by the cover 30. VA bearing 47 carried by the oor 32 and a bearing48 carried by the cover 36 support a vertical shaft 49 disposed parallel to the shaft 45 and likewise extending through the horizontal walls 34, 35 and 35a.

Each of the horizontal walls 34, 35 and 35a has mounted thereabove a conveyor 50 and as the conveyors 50 are the same a description of one should suiiice. The conveyors 50 operate at a relatively slow speed which can be such as to provide one complete cycle of revolution per minute of the shaft 45.

Each of the conveyors 50 includes a sprocket 51 secured to the shaft 45 for rotation thereby and a sprocket 52 freely rotatable on the shaft 49. The sprockets 51 and 52 are connected by an endless chain 53 to which bottle carrying receptacles 54 are connected.

The receptacles 54 are shown as cups, with supporting rollers 55 mounted therebelow in brackets 56 to ride upon the upper faces of the respective walls 34, 35 and 35a.

Any desired locking or holding mechanism 57 can be i employed, if desired, controlled by the presence or ab sence of a bottle in each of the receptacles 54.

-to horizontal` position with another-arm 58]) in-inclined or out of holding position, `as shown in Fig. of the drawings. .y

The bell crank levers- 58 Vare adapted, upon -removal of the bottle fromV the receptacles 54, and as illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings, to pivot bytheir weight to a vertical downward position for engagement in one of the notches 60 provided along the front margins of the walls 34, 35 and 35a.

The overload or slip clutch 43 permits of the holding of the conveyors 50 ata stopped position without injury to the motor 40.- v g I The housing is also provided with a suitable cooling or refrigeration system for cooling therbottles carried by the receptacles 54,'and for Ythis-purpose a, compressor 65 can be mounted on the oor 32 in the compartment 38, driven by an electric motor 66. The motor 66 canbe connected to the conductor 41.

The cooling system preferably includes a refrigerant expansion pipe 67 which is mounted on the interior of the rear wallV 18,` and is connected to the compressor 65,

and an externally disposed condenser or refrigerant cooler 68 mounted on the exterior of the wall 11. An expansion valve (not shown) can be provided in the refrigerant system in the usual manner. Y

Within the housing 10 and above the wall 34, and preferably centrally therein a verticalV light box 69 is provided. The light box 69 preferably has mountedtherein a relatively cold source ofrlight such Yas tubes 70 of 'a uorescent or neon type with afi-ont lplastic shield 71V of white or colored material.

' The electric energy for the lightbox 69 can be supplied from the conductor 41. Y e Y In the formof the invention illustrated in Fig.` 7, in

fplaceof the sprockets 51 and 52 and the chain 53, Ydiscs V75 are provided above the walls 34, 35 and 35a connected toand Vdriven by the shaft 45, each with its peripheral edge inengagement with the edge of ardisc 76, mounted on a vertical shaft 77. The discs 76 each has its peripheralV edge in engagement with the peripheral edge of a disc 78 freely rotatable on the shaft 49. A p

The discs 75, 76 and 78 can have receptacles 54 mounted thereon'with bell crank levers 58, as before, for engagement in notches 60a in theplates 34, 35 and 35a.

The mode of operation will now be pointed out.,

With bottles mounted in the receptacles 54 the bell crank levers 58 will be in position to permit movement of the receptacles'54 'by the chain 53 upon rotation of the shaft 45 andthe sprocket 51.- Y

Rotation of the shaft 45 is effected through the speed vthe problems of cooling. A. l

4 r reducer 44 and the overload or slip clutch 43 upon rotation of the motor 40. W v l At the same time, the bottles carried by the receptacles S4 are cooled by the effect in the interior of the housing 10 of the cooling system and particularly the pipe 67.

If it is desired Vto use any one of the bottles, the contents of which have been cooled, the specific bottle is removed from the receptacle S4 whereupon the bell crank 58 will swing into a notch 60 or 60a and stop the furtherA The access opening permits of the ready insertion" or removal of bottles carried by the receptacles 54.

The continuous movement of the receptacles 54 and the bottles carried thereby not only aids in the cooling but enhances the interest and attractiveness of the display. Light for the light box 69 further` enhances the attractiveness of the display without materially increasing I claim: Y

1. A beverage cooler comprising aheat insulated housing having vertical wallp'ortions,V said housing being closed at the rear andsides and having an opening in the front thereof for access to the interior, horizontal walls in said housing extending to said vertical wall portions and providing-in said housing ai lower compartment Vand article receiving compartments thereabove, beverage container conveyor membersin each of said article receiving compartments, each of said conveyor members including a plurality of separate container receptacles, -driving members for" actuating said conveyor members including a motor connected thereto through a slip connection,

' and braking membeijsfresponsive to the presence of bevetage containers inV each of said receptacles for controlling the movementy of said conveyor members.

2t A beverage cooler as defned in claim 1 having a.V light source aroundvwhichpsaidconveyor membersV areV movable for illuminating 'the containers carried by said receptacles.

y `VReferexlxces Cited in thele of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Childers ...;....--V May 14, 1957 

